Hotel Olivewood - Exploring the region
Exploring the region
Beaches, bush and everything in between
Olivewood sits on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast, a 30-minute drive from East London. Whether you spend the day on the estate or head out to explore, there is plenty within easy reach — pristine beaches and lagoons, game reserves, a craft brewery, art studios, horse riding on the sand, and a village centre with everything you need.
On the estate
Before you head out
There is plenty to fill a day without leaving the gate — a private guest club, a championship course, a spa and a nature trail through free-roaming wildlife.
The Residence Club
Exclusively for hotel guests and residents. Unwind in the lounge with DSTV and Wi-Fi, or relax on the poolside loungers in a secluded garden. Enjoy access to a private gym, with changerooms and showers for your convenience.
Private gym
Pool
Lounge & Wi-Fi
Picnics
Enjoy a romantic couples or family picnic on the lawns or under the trees, with stunning views of the rolling hills of the golf course providing the perfect setting.
A round of golf
Play our scenic 18-hole golf course, ranked among the top 100 courses in South Africa. Clubs are available for hire. For fees, tee times and bookings, please contact the Pro Shop.
18 holes
Pro Shop ext. 223
Driving range
Perfect your swing at our driving range, open daily. A bucket of balls costs R50 — contact the Pro Shop to arrange.
Daily 8am – 4pm
R50 a bucket
Pro Shop & leisure store
Visit our Pro Shop at The Clubhouse for a wide range of golf gear, and find a selection of leisure wear in the Hotel Reception.
Beautiful Spa
Discover ultimate relaxation at our spa, where a range of rejuvenating treatments awaits — soothing massages, revitalising facials, manicures, pedicures and indulgent couples’ experiences.
Book 24 hours ahead
Mountain bike & nature trail
Get some fresh air on our mountain bike and nature trail. Follow the signs from the hotel to the starting point and enjoy the scenic route. Be aware of free-roaming wildlife — the trail is used at your own risk.
Approx. 5 km
Moderate difficulty
Two on-site eateries
The Clubhouse and The Governor’s House serve everything from a relaxed lunch to a long dinner, both a short stroll from your room.
Venues & events
Olivewood hosts weddings, conferences and special events, with venues set among the gardens and overlooking the rolling hills of the course.
Wildlife
Free-roaming residents
Zebra, giraffe, nyala and impala roam freely across the estate, and the birdlife is exceptional — including the endangered Grey Crowned Crane. Thirty mammal species and more than 160 birds have been observed here.
Caution: free-roaming wildlife
Please be aware of natural hazards, which may include, but are not limited to, spiders, snakes and free-roaming wildlife. Trails are used at your own risk. Do not approach wildlife on foot.
Mammals — 30 species
- African Wild Cat
- Black-backed Jackal
- Blue Duiker
- Blue Wildebeest
- Bush Buck
- Bushpig
- Cape Clawless Otter
- Cape Grey Mongoose
- Cape Hare
- Caracal
- Chacma Baboon
- Common Duiker
- Giraffe
- Grysbok
- Honey Badger
- Impala
- Large Grey Mongoose
- Large Spotted Genet
- Nyala
- Plains Zebra
- Porcupine
- Rock Dassie
- Scrub Hare
- Steenbok
- Tree Dassie
- Vervet Monkey
- Waterbuck
- Water Mongoose
- Warthog
- White Tailed Mongoose
Birdlife — 165 species
- White-faced Whistling Duck
- Egyptian Goose
- African Black Duck
- Yellow-billed Duck
- Cape Teal
- White-backed Duck
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Common Quail
- Red-necked Spurfowl
- Red-winged Francolin
- Little Grebe
- Great Crested Grebe
- Rock Dove
- Speckled Pigeon
- African Olive Pigeon
- Red-eyed Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- European Nightjar
- Fiery-necked Nightjar
- Horus Swift
- Common Swift
- White-browed Coucal
- Klaas’s Cuckoo
- African Emerald Cuckoo
- Diederick Cuckoo
- Common Cuckoo
- Grey Crowned Crane (Endangered)
- Knysna Turaco
- Black Stork
- Hamerkop
- Little Bittern
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Cattle Egret
- Grey Heron
- Black-headed Heron
- Goliath Heron
- Purple Heron
- Great Egret
- Intermediate Egret
- Little Egret
- African Sacred Ibis
- African Spoonbill
- Hadada Ibis
- Long-tailed Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
- Cape Cormorant
- African Darter
- Kittlitz’s Plover
- Three-banded Plover
- Blacksmith Lapwing
- Crowned Lapwing
- Black-winged Kite
- African Cuckoo Hawk
- African Harrier Hawk
- Long-crested Eagle
- African Marsh Harrier
- Little Sparrowhawk
- Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
- Black Sparrowhawk
- African Fish Eagle
- Jackal Buzzard
- Eurasian Buzzard
- Common Barn Owl
- Cape Eagle Owl
- Spotted Eagle Owl
- Speckled Mousebird
- White-backed Mousebird
- Red-faced Mousebird
- Narina’s Trogon
- Crowned Hornbill
- Trumpeter Hornbill
- Common Hoopoe
- Green Wood-hoopoe
- Wahlberg’s Honeybird
- Greater Honeyguide
- Rufous-breasted Wryneck
- Cardinal Woodpecker
- Crested Barbet
- Black-collared Barbet
- African Pygmy Kingfisher
- African Malachite Kingfisher
- Half-collared Kingfisher
- Giant Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
- Brown-hooded Kingfisher
- Common Kestrel
- Lanner Falcon
- Peregrine Falcon
- Eastern Black-headed Oriole
- Cape Batis
- Chinspot Batis
- Southern Tchagra
- Olive Bush-shrike
- Southern Boubou
- Bokmakierie
- Fork-tailed Drongo
- Southern Fiscal
- Cape Crow
- White-necked Raven
- Pied Crow
- Blue-mantled Paradise-flycatcher
- African Paradise-flycatcher
- Collared Sunbird
- Amethyst Sunbird
- Southern Double-collared Sunbird
- Greater Double-collared Sunbird
- Red-collared Widowbird
- Southern Red Bishop
- Yellow Bishop
- Fan-tailed Widowbird
- Long-tailed Widowbird
- Cape Weaver
- African Firefinch
- Common Waxbill
- Swee Waxbill
- Bronze Mannikin
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Dusky Indigobird
- House Sparrow
- Cape Sparrow
- Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
- Plain-backed Pipit
- Cape Longclaw
- Yellow-throated Longclaw
- Cape Wagtail
- Yellow-fronted Canary
- Brimstone Canary
- Streaky-headed Canary
- Cape Canary
- Southern Black Tit
- Rufous-naped Lark
- Red-capped Lark
- Cape Grassbird
- Rock-loving Cisticola
- Piping Cisticola
- Zitting Cisticola
- Karoo Prinia
- Knysna Warbler
- Little Rush Warbler
- Common Reed Warbler
- Lesser Swamp Warbler
- Northern House Martin
- Lesser Striped Swallow
- Greater Striped Swallow
- White-throated Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Rock Martin
- Banded Martin
- Plain Martin
- Common Bulbul
- Garden Warbler
- Cape White-eye
- Common Starling
- Red-winged Starling
- Cape Starling
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Southern Black Flycatcher
- Fiscal Flycatcher
- Cape Robin Chat
- Cape Rock Thrush
- African Stonechat
- Familiar Chat
- Olive Thrush
Visit the local sights
The coast on your doorstep
Chintsa East
A quaint village with plenty to offer — a pristine beach and lagoon, shopping, a petrol station, eateries and art.
Chintsa West
Swim in a tidal pool or take a peaceful stroll along a long stretch of beach.
Glen Eden
A beach and lagoon ideal for surfing, kite surfing and fishing.
Kwelera
The well-known ‘Yellows’ surf spot, rock and surf fishing, and the National Botanical Garden.
Discover fascinating marine life in the rock pools between Chintsa West and Chintsa East, Glen Eden and Kwelera.
Nearby attractions
Adventure, art and a cold beer
A short drive from the estate you will find game reserves, a craft brewery, art studios and operators running everything from horse rides on the beach to ziplines. Contact them directly to book.
Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve
Enjoy a guided game drive, quad bike tours, guided bush hikes and canoeing.
Tea in the Trees
The Chintsa Contemporary Gallery — explore an eclectic mix of local artists with all artwork available for sale, experience the outdoor theatre, or enjoy nature on the Chintsa forest trail, perfect for walking, running or biking.
Emerald Vale
Taste locally crafted beer on a guided brewery tour, then pick up homemade preserves, exclusive merchandise and gift packs at The Hops Shop. Enjoy a farm drive and sunset picnic at the lookout point, or try off-road biking, hiking, nature walks and bird-watching.
Chintsa Horses
Experience the thrill of horse riding along the beach and through the bush — an amazing adventure for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced riders, including children. Every ride helps support a horse rescue and rehab centre.
Ocean Xtreme Adventures
Truly experience the majestic Indian Ocean, from wild to mild — take an adrenaline-pumping ride or enjoy a slow cruise out to sea, suitable for all ages.
Hey Clay
Get creative and paint your own pottery under the trees — a fun and family-friendly activity.
Areena Riverside Resort
Adventure awaits with loads of activities, from game viewing with a difference — safaris on quad bikes, river cruises or canoeing, to a giraffe interaction. Try abseiling, ziplining, a segway tour, obstacle course, paintball, archery and target shooting.
The area
Getting your bearings
Click the map to enlarge
Crossways Village Centre
A few minutes from the estate gate, Crossways Village Centre covers the everyday essentials — so you can pick up supplies, fill up or grab a coffee without heading back into East London.
Supermarket
Retail stores
Bank ATMs
Doctors
Pharmacy
Petrol station
PostNet
Eateries
Garden centre
Hairdresser
Stay with us
Make Olivewood your base
Spacious boutique rooms, a spa, a championship course and the Residence Club — with the beaches, bush and back roads of the Wild Coast all within easy reach.
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